For the most recent information concerning the Interstate 75 reconstruction project through Lima and Allen County, and the safety upgrade of state Route 117/309 on Lima's east side please visit: www.odotlima75.org

· Interstate 75 between Fourth Street and state Route 81 in Lima will have occasional nighttime lane restrictions during reconstruction of the existing lanes of pavement, replacement of mainline bridges and reconstruction of the interchanges. Work began in March 2013 and will continue through fall of 2015. Traffic is maintained two lanes in each direction the majority of the time. Lane restrictions generally occur from 7 p.m. until 10 a.m. the following morning. The following is project information for the coming week:

-The entrance ramp to Interstate 75 northbound from state Route 117/309, and the exit ramp from northbound Interstate 75 to state Route 117/309 will close Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to allow for installation of a storm sewer. Northbound I-75 traffic wishing to access state Route 117/309 will be directed to state Route 81 to I-75 southbound back to state Route 117/309. Traffic wishing to access I-75 northbound from state Route 117/309 will be directed southbound on I-75 to state Route 65 back to I-75 northbound.

-The Interstate 75 northbound exit ramp to Fourth Street reopened on Thursday, Aug. 15. The northbound entrance ramp is expected to reopen by the Labor Day holiday. The southbound ramps are anticipated to be reopened in approximately one month.

-Electronic message boards have been placed along Interstate 75 to guide traffic for the Allen County fair to the appropriate exits. Northbound traffic on Interstate 75 may use exit 124 (Fourth Street), southbound traffic on Interstate 75 can use exit 125 (state Route 117/309) or exit 122 (state Route 65). Exit 124 southbound will remain closed throughout the fair. There will be no access to Interstate 75 from Fourth Street during the fair. Use state Route 65 or state Route 117/309 to access Interstate 75 from the fairgrounds. Signs have been placed throughout the area to guide traffic to and from the fairgrounds.

-Paving of the new lanes on Interstate 75 in the northbound direction outside the barrier wall from just south of Fourth Street to state Route 117/309 is near completion. Paving in the southbound lanes from south of Fourth Street to state Route 117/309 interchange is expected to begin during the week. Traffic on Interstate 75 could be affected at times. Motorists are cautioned to watch for concrete trucks entering and exiting the highway over the next several weeks as the operation continues.

· State Route 117/309 is two lanes in each direction without a center turn lane from just east of the interchange with Interstate 75 to Bowman Road during a safety upgrade project which will reconstruct areas of the pavement and install a raised curb median in the center of the roadway. All traffic is currently traveling on the north side of the roadway while work takes place on the south. Only two lanes of traffic are maintained, one lane in each direction, from Willard Avenue (Speedway) to the west of the Interstate 75 interchange. This part of the project will be completed this fall.

· State Route 81 from just west of Stewart Road to just west of Neubrecht Road east of Lima is one lane in each direction in the existing eastbound lanes for pavement reconstruction. All ramp movements are currently maintained at the interchange with Interstate 75.

Allen County

Pavement repair will take place at the following locations during the week with traffic maintained through the work zone. Work is being performed by Allen County ODOT maintenance garage:

-State Route 66 south of Spencerville

-State Route 309 between village of Elida and Eastown Road

-State Route 196 at the Ohio 117 intersection

-State Route 65 at Bluelick Road

-State Route 117 between Lima and the Auglaize County line

Hancock County

U.S. 68 in the village of Arlington will be restricted to one lane through the work zone through the week for pavement repair. Work is being performed by the Hancock County ODOT maintenance garage.

Hardin County

State Route 67 west of Kenton where a bridge deck repair is taking place will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time while safety-related components are completed. Traffic is detoured from state Route 67 to state Route 235, to state Route 309 to U.S. 68 back to state Route 67. Work is being performed by Miller Brothers Construction, Archbold.

State Route 67 from Ohio 117 to Kenton will be restricted to one lane through the work zone for pavement surface repair. Work is being performed by Hardin County ODOT maintenance garage.

U.S. 68 from the Dunkirk north corporation limit to south of the railroad tracks will be restricted to one lane through the work zone following the Labor Day holiday for resurfacing. Repair work in preparation for resurfacing has already taken place. Work is being performed by Gerken Paving, Inc., Napoleon.

State Route 81 from the village of Dunkirk to Patterson will be restricted to one lane through the work zone following the Labor Day holiday for pavement repair and resurfacing. Work is being performed by Shelly Company Inc., Findlay.

Putnam County

State Route 15 between Township 15C and 16C will be restricted through the work zone for shoulder work. Work is being performed by the Putnam County ODOT maintenance garage.

Van Wert County

State Route 49 inside the corporation limits of the village of Convoy will be restricted to one lane through the work zone for pavement repair and resurfacing. The project is anticipated to begin Aug. 22. Work is being performed by Shelly Company, Findlay.

State Route 66 north of its intersection with U.S. 30 will close Aug. 26 for two days for a culvert replacement. Traffic will be detoured onto U.S. 224 to U.S. 127, to U.S. 30 back to state Route 66. Work is being performed by the Van Wert County ODOT maintenance garage.

State Route 117 near its intersection with state Route 116 will close Sept. 3 for two days for a culvert replacement. Traffic will be detoured onto state Route 116 to state Route 81, to state Route 66, back to state Route 117. Work is being performed by the Van Wert County ODOT maintenance garage.

U.S. 127 three miles south of Van Wert closed Aug. 13 for 45 days for bridge repair. Traffic is detoured to state Route 709 to state Route 118 back to U.S. 127. Work is being performed by Brumbaugh Construction, Arcanam.